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Eric Abidal Bids Adieu

, Monday, December 22, 2014 4:04 PM

Former France international defender Eric Abidal played his last official game Saturday as his Olympiakos team beat Kalloni 5-0 in a Greek Super League contest on the Aegean island of
Mytilene. The 35-year-old former Barcelona star, who made a comeback after undergoing a liver transplant, had announced his retirement at an emotional press conference in Piraeus on Friday citing
"personal reasons.”

“These are moments I will never forget. Very good and unique moments. It was my last match, we played well and an ideal way to go on holiday,” Abidal said
after the game that lifted Olympiakos to first place. “The return from my health problems was a very special moment that I cannot describe. I've always been a fighter. I am lucky because I am an
open person, I met many people and I experienced great moments. It was beautiful for me to end with a big win. I thank the spectators of Kalloni for their warm applause, despite the big loss for their
team.”

Abidal spent six years with Barcelona but left in 2013 after recovering from the transplant but was not offered a new contract. Abidal was first diagnosed with a liver tumor in
March 2011 but remarkably he played the whole of the Champions League final against Manchester United two months later which Barca won 3-1. A year later he underwent the transplant.